The uninterrupted high roller trade

An article by MathiRaj

At this point, there can be nobody who doesn’t know how this pandemic has affected the prices and availabilities of food and other essentials. With that being aside, availability of luxuries are almost totally forbidden. The new closing hours of stores being around afternoon, even if goods are available, purchasing it is hard due to the long queues and crowds of buyers at the shop. Speaking of sale of consumables, liquor stores have been closed officially for almost a month now, here in Chennai and the availability of liquor is really hard for the buyers, even if they are willing to pay from 300%-1000% more than the old cost. Noting that, people have started turning their attention to a forbidden high, Marijuana. It is a known fact that Marijuana trade, consumption, owning and cultivating is stated illegal. Under IPC section 20 of the NDPS act, 1985, you can be kept behind bars for up-to a year and a fine up-to ten thousand rupees if you are found with just a hundred grams of this drug. However, reports show that this drug peddling and consumption has been going on in the Perambur locality, Chennai for quiet some time. Initially, less than hundred grams of grade one grounded Marijuana was reported to be costing eighty rupees and can roll up-to two joints, in other terms, it is sufficient to get a person intoxicated for a whole day. The users were all in the age group of early twenties and late teenage in this locality. But with the whole pandemic going on, we may think this horrible trade would not have been possible but no. It is sad to notice that the quantity of Marijuana users had been on a really sharp rise, the same quantity of this drug is now sold for over four hundred rupees per a packet, and the worst of all, the business is flourishing without any interruption. Buyers when inquired say that their deals tend to take place during the hours provided by the government for shops to function, as this time offers the drug buyers and sellers to mingle with the public. Usually, the traders tend to tape the packets to their slippers or slit the seat of an auto rickshaw inside which the packet is stuffed and covered with a tape. Considering the drug users don’t value their life and are okay about catching the corona virus, it still poses a serious threat to all the other people in the surrounding, as they could act as a huge cause of spreading the virus. The chances of spreading are really high because of their trade deals, as they usually join in groups, obviously without any social distancing both to trade and smock Marijuana. Needless to say that all our police officers and officers of the narcotics department are working really hard during this pandemic, for which we all are really grateful for but we also kindly request the concerned authorities to look into this matter.